Teenage girls who use Facebook 'are more likely to become anorexic'

Teenage girls who spend hours on Facebook are at greater risk of developing an eating disorder, researchers warn.

A study has revealed the more time adolescents spent browsing the social network, the more likely they are to suffer from bulimia and anorexia.

A study of girls aged 12 to 19 found they were more likely to go on an extreme diet if they spent hours on Facebook

Checking out music and fashion online also encouraged them to develop a negative self-image and have an unhealthy attitude towards food, according to scientists from the University of Haifa.

But they found the risk was moderated if parents were involved in how their children used the internet.

Eating disorders include a wide spectrum of abnormal mental and behavioral conducts related to food and body weight. Around one in 250 women experience anorexia in the UK, while around five times as many struggled with bulimia.

The latest study, led by Professor Yael Latzer, set out to examine the effects of two factors on the development of eating disorders in young girls: exposure to the media and self-empowerment.

A group of 248 girls aged 12 to 19 took part in the survey. They were asked to provide information on their Internet and television viewing habits and how many popular shows featured extreme standards of body image.

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The girls also filled out questionnaires that examined their approach to slimming, bulimia, physical satisfaction or dissatisfaction, their general outlook on eating, and their sense of personal empowerment.

The results showed that the more time girls spend on Facebook, the more they suffered the conditions of bulimia, anorexia, poor physical self-image, negative approach to eating and a greater urge to be on a strict diet.

Extensive online exposure to fashion and music content showed similar tendencies, but manifested in fewer types of eating disorders.

A similar direct link was found between viewing television programmes such as Gossip Girl and eating disorders in adolescent girls.

But worried parents will be relieved to hear that their involvement can moderate the risks.

Girls felt greater personal empowerment if their parents knew what they were looking at on the web and discussed their surfing habits with them.

However, they were less empowered if their parents were not involved in their media exposure and tried to limit or ban their daughters from using Facebook.

The researchers said: 'Significant potential for future research and application of eating disorder prevention lies in an understanding of how parenting decisions can have effect on an adolescent girl's sense of empowerment and that enforcing a girl's sense of empowerment is a means to strengthening body image.

'This study has shown that a parent has potential ability to prevent dangerous behavioral disorders and negative eating behavior in particular.'

A spokesman from Facebook said: 'Young people are surrounded by photo-shopped models in magazines and airbrushed film stars, but when they spend time on Facebook they’re with their friends.

'People spend hours with their friends every day in the real world, so we’re not convinced spending time with them on Facebook makes them any more likely to have an eating disorder, particularly when the research in question has a sample size of just 248.

'Far from exacerbating self esteem problems, Facebook gives people closer contact with a network of supportive friends and family, the people this report’s authors say are best equipped to help people though eating disorders.'